Chapter 7 The Push and Pull of Feelings
Kirana tried to ignore every sign Adrian gave her—his meaningful looks, faint smiles, or words that sounded ordinary to everyone else but carried a hidden meaning for her.
Yet the more she tried to avoid him, the closer Adrian came.
"Have the report for the partnership project with Sentinel ready by three. I want us to discuss it before next week's presentation," Adrian said when they met in the office corridor.
Kirana nodded quickly, hoping she could leave soon. "Yes, sir."
Just as she was about to turn away, Adrian added in a lower voice, "And, Kirana... stop trying to avoid me."
Kirana tensed but didn't turn around. She simply took a deep breath and continued walking as if she hadn't heard him.
But unfortunately, her heart began beating faster.
That afternoon, Kirana sat at Adrian's desk with her laptop open in front of her while he stood behind her, reading the report she'd just put together.
Adrian always looked professional in front of everyone else, but when they were alone like this, there was something about his manner that made Kirana uneasy.
"The budget presentation is well organized. But there's one section that needs revision."
Kirana waited, but Adrian didn't speak right away. Instead, he leaned forward slightly and looked at her laptop screen from a closer distance—far too close.
Kirana's heart immediately began to race as Adrian's distinctive scent filled her senses.
"The wording in this section is too formal. Try making it shorter and more direct," Adrian said quietly, his tone more relaxed than usual.
Kirana swallowed. "Yes, sir."
As she retyped it, Kirana could feel Adrian's gaze still fixed on her.
Only this time, something was different. It was as if he were testing her. Or more accurately... enjoying the way Kirana tried to remain professional while his presence was so distracting.
After working together for several hours, Kirana began to feel more comfortable—or rather, she was starting to get used to having Adrian nearby.
However, when she closed her laptop and prepared to go home, a notification from her phone made her freeze.
A message came in from an unknown number:
"[Kirana, I want to talk. Please, give me a chance.]"
Kirana clenched her hands tightly. She recognized the number.
Raka.
Her former fiancé who had betrayed her.
All the feelings she'd managed to suppress came rushing back. The wound she thought had begun to fade suddenly felt raw again.
She quickly turned off her phone screen and tried to ignore it.
Adrian, who had been watching her all this time, clearly noticed the change in Kirana's expression.
"Is something wrong?" he asked seriously. Kirana flinched and hurriedly shook her head.
"No, sir. I'm just a little tired."
Adrian didn't answer right away. He only looked at her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Kirana," he called, his voice gentler than usual.
Kirana turned to him, and this time there was no teasing in Adrian's gaze. Only a sincerity that, for some reason, made it even harder for her to breathe.
"Whatever is bothering you, don't let it control you."
Kirana swallowed. For the first time, she saw another side of Adrian. And it was far more dangerous.
Because she knew that if she stayed near this man for too long...
She might never be able to leave again.
Ever since that night, Kirana had tried to convince herself that Adrian was nothing more than her boss. Nothing more. Nothing less. Yet it seemed Adrian wasn't making things any easier.